Economics PhD

Our Economics PhD aims to develop world-class researchers, capable or contributing to academic and policy questions at the highest level.

Why study with us?

  • 91%

    of our School's research classified as 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)

  • 160

    International experts shape world-class academic thought.

  • 100%

    of our research environment classified 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)

Overview

The University of Liverpool Management School’s (ULMS) Economics PhD programme has a long tradition of developing economists for the next generation, with unique research skills in modelling economic issues, conducting empirical analyses, and developing economic guidance for businesses and public institutions, at both micro and macro level.

The training offered is tailored, with specific modules aimed at facilitating the development of your individual research project:

  • Advanced topics in Macroeconomics
  • Advanced topics in Microeconomics
  • Advanced topics in Macroeconometrics
  • Advanced topics in Microeconometrics.

To ensure you receive the most relevant support during the thesis development stage, you will work with a primary supervisor, who is a leading expert in their field.

Additionally, you will be supported by a secondary supervisor, who is typically promising early career researcher, specialising in your specific area of study.

Research themes

The University of Liverpool Management School  is a UK triple accredited (AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS) leading and internationally recognised research institution, with outstanding REF 2021 results against 108 ranked Business and Management Schools across the country:

  • 12th for submissions judged as World Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*)
  • 16th for research outputs classified as World Leading (4*)
  • 9th place for Research Power (17 places higher than in 2014)
  • 100% of research supported by a World Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*) environment.

The School’s Economics group produces world-class theoretical and applied research, with a strong focus on the real-world impact of this work, and with members regularly publishing in a range of top scholarly journals.

The School also has five research centres and one cluster, specialised in contemporary issues in business and society, and aimed at bringing together expertise across the School and University.

As a PhD student you are welcome to join any of these centres, as they present excellent opportunities to access internal and external research networks around cutting-edge themes.

Research interests

We welcome research proposals including, but not limited to:

  • Micro theory (mechanism design, matching)
  • Applied micro (discrimination, labour, health)
  • Macroeconomics (macro policy, macro-finance, international trade)
  • Econometrics and financial econometrics
  • Political economy
  • Industrial organisation
  • Sports economics. 

When evaluating your application, we will consider:

  • Academic achievements
  • Quality of the research proposal and fit with the Economics group’s profile
  • Teaching potential. 

Please, make sure your application adheres to the following structure (maximum 3,000 words):

  • Title of the proposal
  • Introduction and expected contribution and its significance
  • Literature review
  • Proposed research questions
  • Proposed methodology (fit with research/experience/need for training)
  • Gantt chart
  • References.

Facilities

As an Economics PhD student, you will work in the dedicated graduate student offices situated at Mulberry Court, allowing for plenty of interaction with other students and lecturers.

You will have full access to several important databases and subscriptions provided by the Library, and the School's Computing Cluster and dedicated servers for computation-intensive research.

Research groups

Research by subject groups

We have six groups which form homes for both research and teaching, providing the management and infrastructure to ensure vitality and sustainability of our research environment.

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Economics
  • Marketing
  • Operations and Supply Chain Management
  • Strategy, International Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Work, Organisation and Management

Research centres and clusters

Research centres develop the School's contribution to established themes with a strong focus on applying ideas through funding and impact-related work.

Research clusters are grass-roots driven and interdisciplinary, focussing on the development of new theoretical and empirical work, typically at the early stages of the knowledge production/impact cycle.

  • The Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship
  • Centre for Supply Chain Research
  • Centre for Sports Business
  • Centre for Sustainable Business
  • Centre for Organisational and Employee Wellbeing
  • Liverpool Advanced Methods for Big Data Analytics (LAMBDA) Research Cluster

Study options and fees


The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year

PhD Duration UK students International Students
Full time 2-4 years £4,786
  • Faculty of Health and Life Sciences £29,750 (Band A)^
  • Faculty of Science and Engineering* £29,750 (Band A)^ or £23,400 (Band B)
  • Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences £23,400 (Band B)
Part time 4-6 years £2,393
  • Faculty of Health and Life Sciences £14,900 (Band A)^
  • Faculty of Science and Engineering* £14,900 (Band A)^ or £11,700 (Band B)
  • Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences £11,700 (Band B)

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.


Entry requirements

Applications are welcomed and will be considered in our highly competitive programme from well qualified graduates who would typically hold a UK first degree or equivalent in the first or 2:1 class, in a relevant subject.

English language requirements

IELTS Academic requirement - SELT and non-SELT Overall 7.0 no band below 6.5
TOEFL iBT requirement Minimum 100 overall with L 21 R 21 W 21 and S 23
C1 Advanced CAE requirement Overall 185 with no less than 176 in any paper
PTE Academic requirement69 with minimum scores of 61 in each component
Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE II)ISE II with an overall pass with merit in components
Cambridge IGCSE as a First LanguageGrade C
Cambridge IGCSE as a Second LanguageGrade B
Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Proficiency)Overall 185 with 176 in components
Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced)Overall 185 with 176 in components
Cambridge English Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced)Overall 185 with 176 in components

Additional requirements

To apply for this research degree, you must have reached a minimum standard of English. You need to be able to provide evidence of this. See our English language requirements for international students for guidance on the different English language qualifications and evidence that you can provide. 

International qualifications

We welcome applications from within the EU and from around the world. You should ensure that your qualifications are equivalent to those which are required to study for this research degree.  See our guidance on international qualifications.


How to apply

Research degree applications can be made online.  You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.

Applications are open all year round.

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Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal


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